Kew Gardens: Taxodium distichum

 As a very keen plantsman, I have many trees both rare and interesting which I would love to see in person, or see in the wild. One tree which has interested me greatly since I knew of its existence is Taxodium distichum, also known as the swamp cypress or bald cypress. This is a deciduous conifer which has deep rust red/brown foliage in autumn - similar to when I saw it in Kew Gardens last week. The feature and habit of this tree which has always interested me is the fact that it can live fully in the water (hence the common name!), or on dry land, making it a very multi-functional tree. Even more interestingly, its roots when in waterlogged conditions produce 'knees' or roots which poke out of the soil or water in order for the roots to reach oxygen, and to provide stability in unfirm soil or swamps.

Images below show the 'knees' and the tree as a whole in autumn colour at Kew Gardens.




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